Automatic water-cooled refrigerator



w. DOHERTY 1,797,133

AUTOMATIC WATER COOLED REFRIGERATOR March 17, 1931.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 19, 1927 ,zhyi.

Z1 m'lz'a'mpaizertg Z0 BY ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM DOHERTY, or WEST PHILADELPHIA; PENNSYLVANIA AUTOMATIC WATER-COOLED REFRIGERATOR Application filed November 19, 1927. Serial No. 234,476.

The present invention relates to water cooled refrigerators and has for its object to provide a refrigerator in which the cooling thereof is effected by the flow of water through a portion thereof.

A further object is to so combine the flow of water through the refrigerator and the current of air circulated therethrough that the poisons and germs of decay will be withdrawn from the food compartments and will be eliminated from the interior of the refrigerator. v

A further object is to provide novel and effective" mechanisms whereby the above results are accomplished.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the subjoined specification and will be set forth in the appended claim and I do not wish to be limited in the scope of my invention except asI shall be limited by said claim.

In the drawings-:- Figure 1 is' a vertical section on line 11 of Figure 2, showing the compartments of the refrigerator and the water chamber connected therewith.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section on line 22 of Figure ,1 looking in the direction of the arrows. I in Figure 3 is a'section on line 3-3 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the mechanism for regulating the flow of water through the refrigerator in plan view. Referring to the drawings in detail, the

same reference .characters desi nating the same parts in all viewed the rawings, 1O designates the casing of a refrigerator which is spacedrfrom the floor by suitable supports 11, which are concealed by an apron 12, secured to the lower portion of the refrigerator skirting the same to a distance therebelow so as to substantially contact with the floor. The refrigerator may be divided'into any number of compartments as'shown in the present drawings. It is divided'into compartments A and B by the vertical partition 13. The front of the ice box may be provided with suitable doors 14 and 15 and'with i latches 16 for holding the doors closed, The

compartments may be divided "transversely by grids 17, removably secured to the walls as by being provided with downwardly bent side flanges 18 adapted to hook into supporting brackets 19 secured to the sides of the refrig erator. The two compartments A and B communicate at their lower ends with twoadditional compartments C and D arranged one behind the other. The compartment C may be used to store food or anything that is desired to be preserved. 'The compartment D constitutes the water chamberand is provided with inlet and outlet pipes 20 and 21 in communication therewith having portions there of at 22 and 23 respectively extending above the bottom of the refrigerator. The flow of water into the compartment D is regulated through a float controlled valve 24, which may be in the nature of a hollow ball adapted to fit .in the upper end of the pipe extension 22,

and which is mountedon a weighted lever 25., pivoted at 26 to a suitable support 27, which is secured to the bottom of the compartment, the lever being connected with a float lever 28 pivoted-to a red 29, supported in the compartment intermediate of its ends and ,connected with the lever 25 through a link 30 pivotally secured .to the adjacent ends of said levers. The opposite end of the lever 28 is provided with themsual float 31 secured thereto in a well known manner. The outlet pipe is controlled through a spherical valve member 32 manually controlled through the bell crank lever 33, the handle 34 and the link 35 connecting the handle with one arm of the bell crank lever, the .other arm being connectedto the 'valve through the rod 36.

, An overflow pipe 37 is provided Within the compartment D having communication with the outlet pipe 21 at 38 the upper end of the pipe 37 being. adjusted to the desired level I of the water within the compartment and further pipe 39 is provided having commuits discharge end 41 located within the upper I m'cation with the inlet pipe at 40 and having 3 2 memes signed to maintain a circulation of air within the compartments and through the foods and other substance contained therein. The air passing through'the foodstuffs takes up the germs and poisonous matters and carries them with the flow of current into contact with the water within the compartment B whereby the poisons and germs are taken up and are from time to time carried oif through i the overflow or drain pipe 37. The air will come into contact with the water, will give up its heat and become cooled. When the water has been discharged bymanual operation of the handle 34, the compartment will automatically be filled through theinlet pipe by reason of the fact that when the water level falls, below acertain predetermined height, the valve 24 will be raised through the instrumentality of the float 31 and the 20 lever connections therewith. When the water rises above the predetermined level, the excess water will flow through the drain pipe bringing thelevel to its proper height within the compartment. 25 Having described my invention, what I claim is t In a refrigerator, a casing, a water inlet pipe extending through the bottom of said casing, a valve controlling the inlet pipe, a support secured to and rising from thebottom, a weighted lever pivoted adjacent one end to the support and carrying the valve, a float actuated lever linked at one end to the adjacent end of the valve carrying lever and having pivotal connection in said casing, an outlet pipe extending through the bottom of the casing, a manually operated valve for controlling the outlet pipe, a drain pipe in communication with the outlet pipe and risin 4o therefrom to a plane above the top thereo and means of communication between the in- 't let pipe and the outlet pipe and through the instrumentality of the drain pipe.

In testimony whereof I aflixmy signature. 5 I Y I WILLIAM DOHERTY. 

